Fallen From Grace

Galatians 5:1-6

When I type “fall from grace” in my search bar, I see it’s often paired with the phrase “means I can lose my salvation”.  Is it possible to fall from grace? And if so, what could one do that would be so terrible that it would result in a fall from grace? In our culture, when we talk about someone falling from grace, it’s because they have done something reprehensible that’s led to a loss of position, respect, or popularity. It seems logical then, that a fall from grace in the Bible would be caused by some grievous sin. But the terrible sin that would lead to this fall, isn’t unrighteousness as much as it is self-righteousness (which is also quite unrighteous, if you think about it.)

In Galatians 5:1, Paul proclaims triumphantly, “For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.” We are free at last! After centuries of unsuccessfully kind-of-trying to obey all of the law, Christ has set his people free by imputing to them (and us!) his perfect record of obedience. Now we are sons and daughters! You know what circumcision accomplishes? Nothing! You know what uncircumcision accomplishes? It’s not a trick question- also nothing! Only Jesus is able to accomplish anything of saving merit, which he has done. Paul told the Galatians then, and it applies to us now, “If you are trying to be justified by the law, you are alienated from Christ. You’ve fallen from grace.” Have you ever met someone who said “If there’s a God, he could never forgive me because I’ve done so much wrong”? Have you ever met someone who said “If there’s a God, he could never forgive me because I’ve done so much right?” We would think that’s weird. Doing the right things is supposed to earn us favor, not alienate us from the One we are striving to please. But Paul says, that’s just what it does. We fall from grace anytime we think we need more (or less) than the grace that’s already been given to us.

We now live in a time-in-between: declared righteous, but not yet fully so, we eagerly wait with hope for that day. Until then, what matters, is faith working through love. In the next two months as we finish Galatians, we will see what freedom in Christ looks like and how faith working through love should be demonstrated both internally and in community.

Before we get there, let’s ask some hard questions. Have you fallen from grace? Do you find in yourself a tendency to believe the Father is pleased with you because of all you have done in his name? Or are you able to rest in the finished work of Christ, knowing you are just as loved on your bad days as you are on your good? Do you need to repent for trying to earn a love that’s already been lavished on you? If so, may today be the day you are restored to grace.

I pray that we will ever be growing in both the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our only Righteousness.

Natalie